Medical Application of Novel Biomaterials by Utilizing Crosslinkable Biomacromolecules and Self-Assembled Materials

Abstract

Novel functional hydrogels can be synthesized by the use of functional crosslink structures. Hydrogels were synthesited that contain crosslink structures that can recognize molecules, adhere to tissue surface and release drugs in a sustained manner. The hydrogels containing ‘rationally designed ssDNA’ as the crosslinker were capable of shrinking or swelling in response to ssDNA, and could recognize a single base difference in the samples. The hydrogels containing a ‘reactive polymeric self-assembled structure’ as the crosslinker was capable of strongly adhering to tissue surfaces and releasing drugs in a regulated and sustained manner. This comprehensive paper describes the methodology to design these novel functional hydrogels and their applications as biomaterials.